Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

The 4th match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) is a mouthwatering one. Archrivals Australia and England go at it, and both sides are always keen to get one over the other, no matter the format.

However, these two teams have their issues in ODIs. Australia have lost their past four matches, including two by big margins in Sri Lanka last week. England have lost 16 of their past 23 since the start of their awful 2023 World Cup campaign, and come into this tournament off a 3-0 defeat in India.

The argument for Australia is they step up in ICC tournaments. However, this promises to be a tough test with their entire frontline pace attack missing, along with Mitchell Marsh (injured), Cameron Green (injured) and Marcus Stoinis (retired). So, those experienced players – especially the likes of Travis Head and Steve Smith – must step up.

For England, they have the power, but do they have the know-how in ODIs? They’ve struggled for the right tempo in this format since winning in 2019, and this is their chance to get it right. They have dangerous players right down their lineup, and anything is possible if they get going.

CT 2025 2025 4th Match: AUS vs ENG Possible Playing XIs

If Australia play Matt Short, it is likely that only two of Alex Carey, Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne will play.

Australia: 1. Travis Head, 2. Matt Short, 3. Steve Smith (c), 4. Marnus Labuschagne/Alex Carey, 5. Josh Inglis (wk), 6. Aaron Hardie, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Sean Abbott, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Spencer Johnson/Ben Dwarshuis

England confirmed their playing XI on Thursday with a focus on pace in the XI. Jamie Smith will bat at three, with Joe Root moving to four.

England: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Jamie Smith (wk), 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Jos Buttler (c), 7. Liam Livingstone, 8. Brydon Carse, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

This will be the first match of CT 2025 at Lahore. It is traditionally a flat surface, with two 300+ scores achieved in two matches in the recent Pakistan-New Zealand-South Africa tri-series.

In five ODIs since the start of 2023, the average first innings score is 290.4 with the team batting first winning three times. Expect another good batting track.

Also, the captain who wins the toss may opt to bowl in the mild conditions. A top of just 21 degrees is forecast, with a chance of dew in the evening. Mostly sunny weather is expected.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for AUS vs ENG: Players to Watch/Top Picks

Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if your are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.

Top wicket-keepers:

• Jos Buttler, one of the greats of ODI cricket, will be looking to make a mark here and lead from the front. The England captain has struck 969 runs against Australia in ODIs (avg. 37.26, SR 103.74). He is a potential vice-captain option if England bat first given the inexperience in Australia’s attack.
• If Australia select Alex Carey, he could be a very handy fantasy pick in Dream11. In his last four ODIs, Carey has struck 205 runs at an average of 68.3 and strike rate of 106.8, which includes a man-of-the-match 77 against England at Leeds in September 2024.

Key batters:

• Travis Head is the top captaincy option in Dream11. He has been outstanding in all formats in recent years, particularly ODIs since the start of 2022. In this period, he has hammered 1,390 runs at an average of 57.9 and strike rate of 121.3.
• Ben Duckett has smashed 305 runs in five ODIs against Australia at an average of 61.00 and strike rate of 109.71. He and Phil Salt are good picks in a Dream11 team as Australia lack the usual powerplay strike in their attack on paper.
• Harry Brook loves batting in Pakistan. Also, he struck 312 runs against Australia last year at an average of 78.00 and strike rate of 127.86.

Top all-rounders:

• Glenn Maxwell offers Dream11 points scoring potential in all three facets of the game. Australia could look to send him in earlier given his fabulous record against Adil Rashid: 135 balls, 163 runs, SR 120.7, two dismissals.
• Matt Short is yet to find consistency at ODI level, but he is difficult to ignore from a fantasy perspective. If selected, he will open the batting, provide overs of his offspin and field in the hotspot positions.

Key bowlers:

• Adil Rashid comes into this game in excellent touch after seven wickets in three ODIs in India earlier this month. His matchup against Steve Smith is key. The legspinner has dismissed Australia’s number three seven times in ODIs at an average of 22.3.
• Adam Zampa has taken 34 wickets in 16 ODIs against England (avg. 23.29, SR 25.73). Australia will be sure to use him against Jos Buttler, whom he has dismissed five times in ODIs at an average of just 8.6. In fact, Zampa was man of the match in the 2023 World Cup meeting between the teams.
• Jofra Archer strikes every 30 deliveries in ODIs against Australia (14 wickets). He has dismissed Glenn Maxwell three times for 56 runs in 44 balls.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Teams

• Steve Smith is usually in the must-pick section. However, consider some head-to-head numbers he has against England’s bowlers. Rashid has dismissed him seven times, while Mark Wood has dismissed him thrice at an average of 20.3. Jofra Archer has also kept him relatively quiet in ODIs (50 balls, 29 runs, one wicket). But, Smith has come back into form in recent months and should enjoy conditions at Lahore, so having him in your XI is a safe pick.
• Joe Root is another curious case. He averages 40.74 at number four compared to 49.70 at number three in ODIs. Also, he averages just 26.68 against Australia, although the bulk of their experience is missing. His ability to rotate spin and keep things ticking in the middle also makes him a safe pick in your Dream11 team.
• Liam Livingstone can be a good all-round pick especially if England bats first. He struck at 161.19 in five ODIs against Australia last year (108 runs, avg. 36.00).
• Nathan Ellis can be a value pick in Dream11 as he bowls in the crunch overs, which can bring about wicket-taking opportunities.
• Mark Wood is a good differential Dream11 pick given his head-to-head numbers against some of the Aussie batters: 3/61 off 86 balls against Smith and 3/36 off 57 balls against Maxwell.

Other Key Stats and Matchups

• Travis Head in ODIs against England: 18 inns, 894 runs, avg. 55.87, SR 108.89.
• Travis Head vs. Jofra Archer in ODIs: 34 balls, 46 runs, no dismissals.
• Ben Duckett vs. Sean Abbott: 34 balls, 49 runs, no dismissals.
• Joe Root vs. Adam Zampa: 56 balls, 57 runs, one dismissal.
• Adam Zampa has dismissed Harry Brook twice in 47 balls in ODIs, but the England batter has slammed 73 runs.

CT 2025 4th Match: AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

CT 2025 4th Match: AUS vs ENG Match Prediction – Who will win?

A toss of the coin match. England are struggling in ODIs but Australia have a new-look attack. But, Australia’s prowess and mentality in ICC tournaments may get them home in this one, especially if Travis Head has a strong game.